Garhwal or Kumaon Himalayas.....Where to go first ?

capt_mahajan

yes and <sigh>

I would start at Rishikesh and go upto Chopta, then go back via K and M via (ok not really via but.. ) Binsar, then come down to earth via Lansdowne.

That is a long-ish trip.

Dreams, dreams.

Dilliwala

-ish is an understatement.

How does one get from Binsar to Lansdowne?
(I shud know but I'm feeling too lazy to look it up).

capt_mahajan

Binsar/Ranikhet/Marchulla/Lansdowne.


PS: Maybe should go the other way instead and come down to earth via Pithoragarh and Tanakpur.

Choices.

Dilliwala

I got over my laziness and looked up the map and came up with that very route!

What's that saying about thinking alike? Or not differing?

capt_mahajan

Great men, fools.

Also lemmings

maverick13

That's a real authentic information about Pauri to Karanprayag route. Thanks a lot!

I think Pauri would be a great place to visit. Also Pauri > Chopta > Auli > Karanprayag > Shrinagar > Rishikesh ; all these places would give a complete experience - Himalayan Beauty, Spiritual, Drive along the River, and Treks.

Any preferred place to stay in Pauri? How to get a room at Kandoliya FRH ?

Thanks for all the information !

Dilliwala

GMVN Pauri has the best location. Book in advance as Pauri has few hotels and it's possible for them to be full, specially in the yatra season.

For FRH, write to:
DFO Pauri
Kandoliya Forest Complex,
Pauri 246001

It's better to call, but I cannot find a confirmed tel no. What I have found might be correct, you can try it - 01368-222215.

maverick13

I just came to know about a very religious temple in Pokhari, Rudraprayag - Karthik Swami. It's the birth place of the Lord Karthik, the second son of the Lord Shiva.

The temple is about 40 kms from Rudraprayag and also offers a great panaromic view of the Himalayas.

Any idea about where to stay in the region ?

~ Thanks

Dilliwala

When in doubt, check with the district administration:
http://rudraprayag.nic.in/KartikSwami.htm

That route has been on my list for a while. But the temple is a 3-km walk from Kanakchauri, 38 km from RPG and 16 km before Pokhri. So it's sort of equidistant between Rudraprayag and Karnprayag, which is where I suggest to stay, one of the two.
You're a bit between a rock and a hard place though, as far as your present route of R'prayag-Chopta-Chamoli-K'prayag goes. UNLESS you can find out in RPG whether the road from Pokhri to Makkumath to Chopta is motorable all the way. If yes, then you can do this without inconvenience if you have a car (don't remember how you are travelling), i.e. visit the temple on the way to Chopta.
If you are dependent on public transport, there are only a few jeeps going that way as per my info. Then there's actually a place to stay not far away at Guniyala, as per Outlook Traveller (Little Red House has been mentioned somewhere in IM too). Click the map link to figure out how you wud do your route, it's pretty damn good.

maverick13

Again a great piece of information here !

It seems I need to change my itineray a bit. I should focus more on Pauri and Chopta region. I think there are lots of beautiful and religious places in and around Chopta. I guess it's the real Kedarkhand of Skanda Purana !

I should explore Pokhari, Mukkumath, and take treks to either Madmaheswar or Rudranath. As we would be hiring some local Jeep or SUV, we can afford to explore the unexplored.

I came to know that Mukkumath is the winter seat of Tungnath. Also it's a village with a temple, so must give a real "pahari" experience. I guess the drive from Pokhari > Mukkumath > Chopta would be an amazing one, considering the road less travelled and dense forest with lots of sprititual places around.

Has anyone been to Madmaheswar, which is considered one of the most scenic Panch Kedar ? How difficult is the trek (after monsoon in Sep/Oct)?

I guess the best place for staying to explore the Chopta region would be one of or all of - Rudraprayag, Pokhari, Ukhimath, Chopta or Gopeshwar .

Dilliwala

That's news to me that Makkumath is the winter seat of Tungnath. Hopefully the road Pokhri-Makkumath-Chopta is also complete, or at least jeepable.

The way I see it, spend a night in RPG. Next day move base to Chopta or Ukhimath via Pokhri and Makkumath, see Kartik Swami on the way.
Or, if you want to stay a few days in the area, go from RPG to Kartik Swami, spend next night or two in Guniyala to explore the area, then move to Ukhimath or Chopta.
Don't know of any accom at Pokhri itself, and Gopeshwar wudn't make any sense.

Plenty of threads on Madhyamaheshwar, just do a search. Cheers.

spicetrekker

Yes Makkumath is the winter seat of Lord Tungnath. Madhmaheshwar is not a very difficult trek - provided you give it time; 2 days on the way up and 2 day for descending should be fine. I was there last year in Sept and had no problems of rains and infact had excellent views of chaukhamba at Buda Madh - however rains are unpredictable as after Madhmaheswar we went to Chopta where we had rains and again we got caught in rains at Rudranath. If you need more info you can PM me.